***Update***
New snow in the forecast…3-6″ today with 2 more tonight. JP called from Anchortown and reported 6 on the car this morning. Front Range, Highland, Arctic Valley, Hatcher…Pick your poision, just keep it safe. Lots of new snow in the high country.
Well, some of the crew and I finally rolled out to Hatcher today. It’s been almost two weeks for me…that’s quite a sin. It seems that the pass has gotten a good bit of snow, but as usual that snow came with crazy wind. We drove up to the top to find snow covered slopes, extremely cross loaded gullies, and dangerously inviting North Slopes.
Almost all the snow from this new storm is either plastered to shallow crusted south aspects, or sitting in fat sneaky wind slabs on Northern Aspects. I REPEAT…NORTH ASPECTS ARE EXTREMELY WIND LOADED. We simply toured above the A-frame and found widespread collapsing with almost ever step, even on flat terrain. We kept it very conservative this afternoon. Where the windblown snow landed, it seems to get quite deep.
Independence weather station reported 42 inches at one point, but it’s holding at 37ish. That’s about a foot of fresh in 3 days. Most of the new snow fell earlier today and last night, but it obviously still needs time to settle. Give it a day or two.
Theres more snow in the forecast, so check back for updates. In the meantime, enjoy these shots from Pastoral this past weekend.
Taylor Creek Touring
Wind on the summit ridge was whippin
JP lays turns in the windbuff
Stoked on the approach!
Figure 8′s for Brian
